Former Politico reporter Jonathan Allen heard all the predictable "liberal media" howls late this past year after he left to join a committee for West Broward Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz. All that grief only to leave the Wasserman Schultz office after a mere 40 days -- and go back to journalism.
In yesterday's edition of Politico, Allen tried to get out ahead of the liberal media conspiracy theorists:
[A]s I leave my job at Wasserman Schultz's political action committee to make the transition back to journalism at POLITICO, there will be some who wonder whether I am a political operative just masquerading as a reporter.Sounds like Allen's departure from the Wasserman Schultz camp was amicable. The hard part was convincing his old bosses to take him back.
If you're curious about how the D.C.-based website wrestled with its decision, check out this article by John F. Harris.
Media Matters points out that it's not the first time a Politico staffer had a background as a political operative.
All very confusing. Just when you think you know the politicians from the lobbyists from the journalists, they switch hats on you...
